On a quiet afternoon, a lone drone can be seen making its slow descent as it lands at Zipline’s Kayonza distribution center in eastern Rwanda. In one day, the center has made over 100 deliveries, with a fleet of drones deployed to health centers in its network to deliver blood and medical supplies.
In 2016, Zipline began delivering blood to remote hospitals in Rwanda. By 2019, the company had expanded to provide a nationwide service, delivering 75% of the country’s blood supply outside of the capital city of Kigali.
The company now has a network across all of Rwanda and half of Ghana, covering over 2,500 health facilities and 25 million people from six distribution centers. It distributes blood and blood components, essential medicines, vaccines, and small medical devices. In Ghana, the company expanded its existing delivery program to include COVID-19 vaccines, transporting 11,000 doses in three days.